Shaky Knees Reveals a Stellar 2026 Lineup
Shaky Knees returns to Atlanta this September 18th through 20th after moving to the fall in 2025. Hosted in Piedmont Park, the festival has become an iconic indie and alternative festival that offers exceptional lineups year after year. The 2026 lineup is no exception, as it is stacked from top to bottom with headliners The Strokes, Twenty One Pilots, and Gorillaz, as well as a myriad of gems including Danny Elfman, Turnstile, Geese, The Prodigy, Jimmy Eat World, Wu-Tang Clan, and OK GO.
The lineup this year is deep. Danny Elfman is a huge grab for any festival because he doesn’t tour that often. I am looking forward to the massive Nightmare Before Christmas sing-along during his set. Turnstile just turned heads with their GRAMMY win and have been acclaimed to have one of the best live touring shows right now. Geese has been making waves as the indie-band-that-makes-you-for-knowing-them. I think they will continue to turn heads leading up to their big show at Shaky. Then there are the nostalgia grabs of Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back Sunday, Modest Mouse, The Prodigy, LCD Soundsystem, Wu-Tang Clan, Coheed and Cambria, OK GO, and Jet. These seem to be what we are calling legacy acts nowadays, and I am here for it. Then digging a little further down, there are still some amazing names like Fcukers, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and Wolf Alice. Overall, we are feasting with this Shaky Knees lineup.
What makes Shaky Knees stand out from other festivals is its late-night programming. At select venues around Atlanta, there are late-night shows that feature artists from the lineup. You typically won’t see any of the headliners playing a second show, but you could catch Geese playing a small club or dare I say Knocked Loose or Turnstile playing the Masquerade. These shows are announced closer to June, so keep an eye out. You do not need a festival ticket to buy tickets to the late-night shows.
The festival runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with Friday usually starting in the late afternoon. It takes place in a huge park located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, surrounded by many walkable restaurants, bars, and even a Trader Joe’s that is right next to the park. Additionally, the famous Atlanta Beltline walking path goes right through the edge of the park, offering connectivity to even more fun spots to check out that are only a short walk or scooter ride away. For anyone traveling from out of town, you can really experience the city of Atlanta with ease while also attending the festival. Honestly, this park venue is my favorite place for events in Atlanta. I am so happy that Shaky Knees relocated to this part of town.
Tickets go on sale Thursday at 9 AM for a special presale that is offering the lowest price for the first hour of the sale. After that first hour, ticket prices are expected to increase. I expect the festival to sell out this year because of the phenomenal lineup, so please get your tickets early. Additionally, make sure you book your lodging early before your options dwindle for places to stay close to the festival. As a saving grace, Piedmont Park is accessible via MARTA (Atlanta’s train system), which gives some more options for staying further out from Midtown.
Hope to see you at Shaky Knees this September!